Freshman Camryn Beikmann follows family legacy in Lutheran education

Freshman Camryn Beikmann hails from Palmer, Kansas, although her family moved to Pierce, Nebraska, last summer. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Lutheran Teacher Diploma from Concordia University, Nebraska. She is also in Concordia Ringers and is in the Luke Scholars honor program. 

She said she chose to study at the university because of the Christ-centered environment. 

“It allows me to connect better with my faith and have the opportunity to make lifelong friends with similar values. Many of my family members have attended Concordia Nebraska and have continuously recommended it as an amazing university,” she said. “The campus community is one that integrates faith into student life. There is unity among students that would be difficult to find anywhere else. Not only is student life Christ-centered, but also the curriculum. Studying God’s creation through a lens of appreciation transforms how students understand and embrace their responsibility to live within it.” 

She rejoices in her future vocation as a Lutheran school teacher. In high school, she celebrated her educational future by signing her Concordia Nebraska church work letter of intent at Linn Lutheran’s Set Apart to Serve chapel service.  

“The message of the chapel focused on all of the called vocations. I was then able to share with the students of Linn Lutheran my commitment to church work and my reason why. I have been blessed to see servant leadership in action through my own education, and I noticed a different approach to teaching as a ministry from my teachers who were synodically trained,” she said. “I was able to see this selfless commitment of time and dedication in my own father, who I was blessed to have as my school principal and sixth through eighth grade teacher. I was happy to share this by doing my signing in front of the kids.” 

Both of Beikmann’s parents – David ’99 and Diane ‘01 – attended Concordia Nebraska and her sister Claire is currently a junior at the university. 

“I can clearly see how much the faculty of the education department at Concordia cares for their students. They are dedicated to helping us earn our degrees and have a good experience at the university.”

“I have loved meeting new people and making friends that also value keeping their faith strong. I also have really enjoyed my classes so far. I was ready for the switch from high school classes to college classes,” she said. “I can clearly see how much the faculty of the education department at Concordia cares for their students. They are dedicated to helping us earn our degrees and have a good experience at the university. All of my professors have really encouraged me to see my education as my responsibility. It will only be as meaningful as I want it to be. They have helped me see the value of being a student in a world that places a high value on what occupation you are preparing to be.” 

A self-professed “coffee drinker who is unaffected by caffeine,” Beikmann enjoys reading, crocheting and playing volleyball with my sisters. A visit to either of her grandparents’ houses is her favorite kind of trip. She also loves to learn musical instruments and can currently play guitar, flute, tenor saxophone and piano. Next on the list? She’d love to learn organ. 

She said that her time at the university has also deepened and strengthened her faith. 

“I get to become much more familiar with the scripture in my New Testament class,” she said. “There are also so many opportunities to take a break from your studies to worship the Lord with your fellow students, such as chapel, Evening Prayer, Praise and a variety of Bible studies. My personal favorite is chapel.” 

Beikmann dreams of serving as an elementary teacher in a Lutheran school in a small town in the Midwest following graduation. 

“I want to have a small class size so that I can get to know all of my students well,” she said. “My dad is the principal at Zion Lutheran School in Pierce, Nebraska, and my mom is a teacher there as well. They are amazing role models for me as I aspire to follow in their footsteps.” 

To celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week, throughout the month of January, Concordia Nebraska will highlight stories of faculty, staff, alumni and students who have been impacted by or serve in Lutheran education. National Lutheran Schools Week provides more than 1,800 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.